42. The “profert” of the deed, note 5640 above. When profert was made, the defendant could demand “oyer.” In ancient practice
this literally meant a reading of the deed in court. With written pleadings, however,
it merely signified that the plaintiff had to set out in the record the deed or other
instrument sued upon. See Sutton, Personal Actions 102–104. Compare Metcalf v. Hall, Form XXIII.